Well-sinking apparatus.



No. 779,285. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905'. H. G. JOHNSTON.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0o'r. 2e, 1904.

Witness tube gripping mechanism,- the said rod carry.-

- blocks and parts inclosed thereby.

' anlsm which engages the outer surface of the, 4

boring means for turning it it frequently hapthe art to which it appertains to make and use consequent imperfect grip which it is possible Patented January 3, 19 05.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE G. JOHNSTON, OF CORSIOANA, TEXAS.

SWELL-SINKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part'of Letters Patent No. 779,285, dated January 3, 1905. Application filed October 26, 1904. Serial N6. 230,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE G. Jonnsroma citizen of the United States, residing at Corsicana, int he county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Sinking Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and -exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in.

the sam This invention relates toimprovements in a well boring apparatus; and particularly to that style ofapparatus which is provided with means for gripping a well-tube and turning the same, while permitting of a longitudinal movementofthe'well-tube through the gripping means.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be herein described and specifically claimed. I

In the'accompanyin'g drawings, Figure 1 is a top planview of a well boring apparatus embodying the features of the present inven+ tion. Fig. 2"is a side elevation of, the same, a portion" thereof being shown in section. Fig. 3 is 'an enlarged detail "horizontal sec-- tional vie'w taken upon the line of one of the bolts or screw-rods for tightening the welling the grippers and forcing them against the well-tn be when drawntoward the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of one of the connecting-blocks employed in the gripping mechanism. Fig. 5 is atransverse vertical section taken through one of the In operating well-drilling casings or tubes,.

as ;well as rods, by means of a gripping mech pens thatonly an imperfect hold; can be obtained upon the said drilling means, because of irregularities in the shape thereof and the to obtain with the usual-well-drilling apparatu's. It is desirable, upon the other hand, to obtain as perfect a grip or hold upon the boring-tube as possible, for otherwise the the subject of the present invention is so formed that the gripping means can accommo-.

-date itself to various unevenness which may occur in well tubes-or rods, the gripping mechanism being of that type in which the well tube or rod is clamped by means of gripping devices which permit the rod or tubing to descend as the bore of the well isdeepened.

In the drawings I have shgwn a preferred way of constructing my improved well-boring mechanism, 1 indicating a stationary base plate ortable, and 2 a rotating upper pla'teor turn-table, each being provided with a central aperture 3, through which the well-tube 4 passes vertically. Antifriction-bearings 5 of any desired construction are arrangedbetween the upper and lower plates, being held in place and guided in movement by grooves or runways formed in the opposing faces of the said plates. The upper plate or turn.- table 2- is provided with an annular overhanging portion formed with a beveled gear 6 upon its under surface, which is engaged by abeveled pinion 7. I to an"actuating-shaft 8, which may be con-. nected in any usual or well-known manner with power mechanism for driving it.

The grippingmeans for engaging the well tube or boring device is mounted upon the turn-table or top plate 2, and while itgi's so secured thereon that it may accommodate itself to unevennesses in the-contour of the tube it is secured thereon so that it cannot rise from theupper surface of the table 2, and thegripping mechanism cannot, therefore, have a vertical movementwith respect to the turn: table. Forthc purpose of securing thegripping means upon the turn-table vertical pins or studs'10 are mounted thereon. The studs or pins may be secured in any desired manner to the turn-table 2, but are -preferably-fastened to bosses 9, which project. upwardly from-the upper surface 05 the table a suflicient height to support the gripper-holding mechanism in operative position. The holding The beveled pinion 7 is secured o allel with the turn-table, but are prevented from rising from the turn-table and the bosses 9. The studs or pins 10 are oppositely arranged upon the table 2, and the bars 12 project in opposite directions from the point of their bearing upon the pins or studs 10. The outer ends of said bars are screw-threaded and extend into connecting-blocks 14 for movably connecting the grippers with the said bars. The connecting members or blocks 14 project low enough at one or more points to engage and rest upon the upper surface of the table 2, as at 15, thus steadying the whole mechanism and giving it a positive bearing and support upon the table. Nut-sleeves 16, having internal threads for engaging the threads upon the bars 12, havea bearing in the outer parts of the connecting members or blocks 14. The outer ends of the nut-sleeves are provided with suitable means for rotating them, such means being shown in the drawings in the shape of hand-wheels 17. The hubs of said wheels 17.bear upon the outer ends of the blocks or connecting members 14, so

that when the hand-wheels are rotated the nut-sleeves 16 will also be rotated. and the blocks or connecting members 14 may be drawn toward the central bearing ofthe bars 12 and the studs or pins 10. The ends of the sleeves 16 are provided with a nut-shaped v ner ends of screws 16".

- the hand-wheels for this purpose.

portion 18, to which may beapplied any suitable implement or wrench for operating the said sleeve; if preferred, instead of employing The sleeves 16 are provided with annular grooves 16", which are preferably engagedby the in- The screws 16 extend through the walls of the connectingblocks, and their inner ends, which are rounded and; made comparatively smooth, project a suiiicient distance into the grooves 16 to insure the retracting of the connecting-blocks 14 when the nut-sleeves 16 are reversed or screwed outwardly upon the ends of the bars 12. The drill rod or tube is engaged by gripping jaws or rings 19, which are mounted upon gripper shafts or rods 20. The gripping-rings 19 are, preferably mounteotrevolubly upon the gripper-shafts 20, so that when the sharp edges of the said rings engage the surface of the well-tube, as shown in 1, the well-tube may be rotated by the turning of the table 2, and yet the tube mayv descend between l the grippers as the well-bore deepens, the

gripping-rings rotating to accommodate such descent. The gripping-jaws 19 are so mounted upon the shafts 20 that they maybe arranged quite close together or farther apart, as desired, so as to properly grip various sizes of drilltubes. The spacing of the gripping-jaws 19 is effected by the use of washers 21, which are slipped upon the shafts 20, a suitable num her being placed between the jaws to spread them the right distance apart and others being placed outside the jaws to insure the hold ing of the said jaws centrally. The shafts 20 are so connected with the connecting members or blocks 14 that the gripping means may accommodate themselves to irregularity or unevenness upon the surface of the well-tube or drill-rod. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the rods or sh'afts20 is passed through a bearing 22, formed in the connecting member or block 14. The bearing circular, so as to fit qiiite closely upon the end of the shaft 20, the said bearing being flared outwardly in a horizontal plane, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The engagement of the-shaft with the double tapered bearing 22 at each end is such that the shaft and connecting member or blocks may have movement in a horizontal plane with respect to each other, the shaft assuming different angles with respect to the blocks under the action of uneven or irregular surfaces upon the well-tube and the consequent alteration or lateral movement of the gripping-jaws. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the normal position of the parts arranged upon the turn-table is such as to form a rectangular figure, the shafts 20 extending generally at right angles to the carrying-bars 12. Because, however, of-the pivoted connection between the carrying-bars 12 and the pins or studs 10 and the swivel connection between the connecting members or blocks 14 and the adjacent ends of the shafts 20 the figure formed by the said carrying-bars and shafts may be altered from a rectangular shape to that of a rhomb or a rhomboid. The gripping means thus constructed is of a superior character, for continuous positive hold upon the well tube or casing and yet permit of the longitudinal movement of the said casing with respect to the gripping means. Without the swivel action if an uneven place upon the well-tube is encountered by the jaws one or more of the said jaws may be'forced out of engagement with the surface of the well-tube and the grip vupon the same be thus weakened-. The gripping device may thus slip with respect to the casing or well-tube and cause the said gripping means to tend to cut the drill-tube an- :nulariy. Such action is also detrimental to the sharp cutting edges of the grippingdaws. :iuch difficulties are entirely obviated by the construction above described, since the whole it makes it possible to obtain asaid gripping mechanism can accommodate itself to various shapes or uneven places upon a well-tube, so that all the gripping-jaws may maintain a biting or gripping contact with the well-tube. g

It will be seen from the above description that the gripping device or grippers are adjustably carried by the ends of the carrying bars 12 and that the said carrying-bars are connected with the table by means of the pins 10. It is only necessary, therefore, to rotate the table 2 by means of theactuating-pinion 7 to carry the grippers around and rotate the well-tube engaging the same. The pivotal connection of the shafts 12 with the table through the agent of the pins 10 makes it possible for the bars to swing laterally over the surface of the table, the said 'ba'rs, however, having no verticalmovement with respect to the table, securing means applied to the upper ends of the pins 10. The adjustment of the sleeves 16 operates to draw the grippers toward the,

well shaft or tube and effect the gripping thereof for turning the well shaft or tube. The pivotal movement of the bars 12 is accommodated by the connection through the blocks 14 with the 'shaft 20, so that the swiveling movement of the parts is complete.

In the construction set forth is embodied a gripping means for wellboring apparatus which is capable of engaging a well-tube so that it may rotate itand yet permit of its longitudinal movement through the gripping means. The lateral swiveling movement renders the ble of adapting itself to various well tubesor casings which may be used.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. Av well-boring apparatus comprising a rotaryplate-or table, gripping means mounted thereon for engagingawell tube or shaft, the

gripping means being capable of a swivelingaction with respect to the table for accommodating unevenness inthe well tube or shaft. 7

'2. A well-boring apparatus, comprising a rotating plate or table, grippers mounted thereon, andmeanspermitting a swiveling action between said plate and grippers for connecting the grippers to the table, and means for preventing the grippers from rising from the table;

3. A'well-boring apparatus comprising a rotating table or plate, grippers mounted .thereon, carrying means pivotally connected with the table, and connecting means interposed between the carrying means and the grippers, said connecting means permitting engaging the said pins or studs,

because of the cotter-pins or other.

device more effective and more capa having a swiveled bearing I between'the grippers and the carrying means.

4:. A well-boring apparatus comprising a rotating plate or table, gripper-carrying bars 'pivotally mounted thereon, the said bars having movement in a plane parallel with .the table, grippers mounted between-the carryingbars and connecting-blocks interposed ,between the grippers and carryingbars, the said connecting-blocks having. a tapering bearing engaging the gripping devices and permitting of a swiveling action between the grippers. and the carrying-bars.

5. A well-boring apparatus provided with a rotating plate, studs or pins rising from the plate, carrying-bars having a central bearing means engaging the pins or studs above the bearings for of a swiveling movement preventing the carrying-bars from rising fromthe table or plate, and grippers connected pivotally with the carrying-bars, the said bars having a lateral swinging movement over the p ate.

6. Awell-bori-ng apparatus comprising a plate or turn-table, carrying-bars pivotally mounted thereon, grippers arranged between the carryingbars, the said grippers being made: up of 'well-tube-engaging jaws, and shafts for carrying the same, connecting or coupling members having bearings for engag-' ing the ends of the carrying-barsiand bearings for engaging the ends of the grippershafts, the said latter bearings being. flared outwardly from their central portions for permitting a'swiveling action of the parts.

-' 7. Arotating mechanism for a well-boring apparatus comprising grippers, a holding means for carrying the same, connecting members or blocks interposed between the grippers and the holding means, each ofsaid blocks formed therein for engaging. the gripping, means, and a totating support carrying thegripper-holding means and actuating the same.

8. Agripping device for well-boring appa- .ra'tus. comprising pivoted carrying bars,

swivel-blocks mounted on the ends of the-carrier-bars, adjusting sleeve-nuts for regulating the position of the swivel-blocks upon the carrier-bars, the said blocks having transverselyarranged bearings, the said bearings flaring ,outwardly from their shaft-engaging portions, grippershafts engaging the bearings, and well-tube-engaging jaws carried by the said shafts. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presencev of two witnesses.

HORACE G. JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

H. E. TRAYLOR, JAMES CLARK. 

